Week 5
1089 words by cdennis1
Since I am not from New Orleans I have only had limited exposure to schools other than universities. Also, since I lack a vehicle my project has to be in proximity to the school so that I can at least walk or catch public transportation without getting lost. I have found two locations that can satisfy that criteria. Last semester I completed a service learning project with my freshmen seminar class at Lafayette charter academy. I know they have a year round after-school tutoring program. I really enjoyed it so I plan to attempt to volunteer there. If it is possible I would like to go during the school day. Generally on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s I get out of class at twelve so it would allow me the option to go during the school day. If not I plan to coordinate my project through the M.A.X. office since they have a tutoring program available. I plan to work with elementary students I feel that if would benefit them if they were introduced to the sciences early. I do not feel as though science is the biggest issue I feel that it is one of the issues in society because as we move toward a more science based economy people need to be able to adapt to feed their families. If they cannot keep up inequality will ensue.
I do not think all of the patriarchs were good role models. One that I do think was a good role model was Abraham. He was willing to kill his son in obedience to God. How faithful can a person be to give away their son. His sacrifice is similar in respect to God and his sacrifice of Jesus. In the case of Isaac he was not a bad person either. He was also compliant with God’s word and never dissented when his father was about to kill him. I know if I were in his predicament a whole different situation would have occurred. I could not imagine my mother telling me she were about to kill me because God instructed her to do so. I would think she was really crazy. In my opinion both these individuals are the epitome of faithfulness.
In the case of Jacob I have a differing view. Even though he is touted as a patriarch he did not set the best examples. He started off wrong by being full of himself. At birth he tried to overshadow his brother by trying to come out first. He did not make things better with his relations with his brother either. I know in every family there is a little healthy sibling rivalry but his was by far the most ridiculous. Even though Esau offered to sale him his birthright he should not have accepted it. It is just the principle of the matter. To me, it is comparable to dating your sister’s boyfriend; an ultimate no-no. What further makes me believe he is not the ideal role model is that he deceives his father by acting as his brother. He constantly finds ways to disrespect his brother. I cannot see his actions being justifiable.
Almost every matriarch did something I did not see as a good portrayal of a role model. When Sarah seen that Ishmael could be a threat to her son’s interests, she had Hagar and Ishmael both banished. Being that women back in these times relied on their husbands for sustenance I equate her actions with trying to starve them to death. I do not think her actions were commendable. Furthermore, if she is supposed to be a role model she was not as faithful in God’s word as her husband in some. In mean when a angel gave word of her forthcoming son she laughed! Now that to me is disrespectful.
In the case of Rebekah she did not portray a good role model. She openly helped devise a plan for her son Isaac to trick her other son as well as her husband out of a blessing. She deceived a handicapped person and used it to her own personal satisfaction. In today’s world that would be looked down upon.
Rachel did not seem to be a bad person. Neither does her sister Rachel seem to be bad either. As far as I know they were not in the business of deceiving people. I believe they just played a passive role in the Bible, both satisfied with simply going along with what the males told them to do. To me there is not too much insight into their character.
My favorite commandment in the Decalogue is “you shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor”. It is not that I agree with this statement that makes me like it. I just find it humorous in how our country was founded on Christian principles and how since its founding have neglected this commandment. Americans have always coveted something whether it was land, slaves, or other material goods and have justified it through the Bible. I just wonder why this commandment is not seen as negatively when people openly defy it as with other commandments. The commandments fit with the ancient Near Eastern Suzerain Treaty because in such treaties they follow the same format consisting of distinct sections which include introducing the Suzerain with additional epithets. After introduction of the Suzerain it goes on to spell out the conditions that must be met. Lastly the closing section notes the goods and bads that may occur if followed. The Decalogue does the same thing except instead of looking at it as merely punishment when not followed it is looked upon as a sin which is seen more negatively.
The image that I though best represented my project was:
